Camera Timecode and Audio Database
Vandelay Sound Exports have a neat database of timecode and audio connections on cameras on their website which can be a useful quick reference: http://timecode.vandelaysoundexports.com/home/index.php
Decibel Sound Level Chart
It is sometimes useful to refer to a chart that shows some common decibel levels of sounds as a reference, and a simple chart with some examples every 10dB or so usually suffices, but today I came across a really details chart put together by Paul Virostek on his Creative Field Recording blog/site that details … Read more Decibel Sound Level Chart
Street Talk Interview
Ahead of Canberra Comedy Festival, the good folks from The Street Theatre caught up with me for an interview for their “Street Talk” series:
The Sound of Water
The Nap Nap Swamp is a wetlands that is part of a floodplain area in south-western NSW that has had some acoustic monitoring going on thanks to ecologists from Charles Sturt University and The Australian National University. Thankfully the ecologists share some of the details and sounds from their work on the following website, which … Read more The Sound of Water
Sound Levels in Cinemas
Something that has been bothering me lately is the variable playback loudness in cinemas, with most cinemas playing back well below the Dolby Reference standard level of 7 (or calibrated to 85dB SPL), but seemingly there pretty much being no standard anymore. Unfortunately films being mixed at lower levels, to make for louder mixes, which … Read more Sound Levels in Cinemas
Intelligibility in Films
The slashfilm.com website has posted up an article discussing some of the reasons why it has often become more difficult to understand the dialogue in films these days. There are a number of points that cover creative choices such as Christopher Nolan’s approach in various films and mixing with theatrical dynamics that doesn’t necessarily translate … Read more Intelligibility in Films
Footsteps Foley on The Feed
A couple of months ago The Feed on SBS did a piece about Foley which a couple of people suggested I check out. I finally got around to watching it and it turns out it is a really good profile of Footsteps Foley studio in Canada, where they have a fantastic custom “Foley House” set … Read more Footsteps Foley on The Feed
Book Review – Behind the Sound Cart by Patrushkha Mierzwa
Behind the Sound Cart: A Veteran’s Guide to Sound on the Set is a welcome addition to the small number of books available about production sound recording for screen productions, and it is the only book that I am aware of that focuses on the Sound Utility / Utility Sound Technician (UST) role specifically. This … Read more Book Review – Behind the Sound Cart by Patrushkha Mierzwa
Immersive Microphone Set-ups
DPA have some fantastic information in their Mic University and their page discussing microphone set-ups for surround sound and immersive audio formats is a really great primer covering some of the common approaches: https://www.dpamicrophones.com/mic-university/immersive-sound-object-based-audio-and-microphones I’ve recorded using various multi-channel/surround techniques, but my most common approach for ambiences is using an IRT Cross. Although the technique … Read more Immersive Microphone Set-ups
Dolby Atmos Explainer
Music Tech Explained have produced a neat explainer video giving a rundown on Dolby Atmos, and importantly, the current state of affairs with regards to some things to keep in mind about mixing with it and how Apple Music handles it downstream. A great introduction to these aspects in this video: